Mother of ISIS captive Peter Kassig offers prayers of her own

Abdul-Rahman (Peter) Kassig was the main topic of discussion during and after mid-day prayers at the Islamic Society of North America, Plainfield, Friday, Oct. 10, 2014.
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Paula Kassig (facing) is hugged after a prayer service on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, at the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield. The event expressed support for her son, who is being held by the terrorist group ISIS.
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At an Islamic center outside Indianapolis, the mother of ISIS hostage Abdul-Rahman (Peter) Kassig offered a heartfelt message to supporters around the world: "Thanks."

Paula Kassig, clad in a white headscarf in a display of modesty, delivered her remarks on Friday during a tribute to her son at the headquarters of the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield.

"We have heard from people all over the world during this past week," she said. "To everyone who has reached out to us in any way, we reach back in thanks. To everyone who has prayed for him, we lift up prayers for you. To everyone who has seen his light shine through knowing him or hearing about him, may that light be reflected in your lives."

Paula Kassig's comments, the first time she has spoken at a public event since her son's capture, followed a prayer service in which dozens of area Muslims prayed for her son's safe return. Paula and her husband, Ed, attended a prayer vigil Wednesday night at Butler University, where their son was a student.

Abdul-Rahman Kassig, an Indianapolis native, was captured in October 2013 by Islamic State fighters while providing humanitarian aid to refugees in Syria, a country torn apart by civil war. During his captivity, his family said, Kassig converted to Islam and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman, which means "servant of the most merciful."

In his sermon, Edgar Hopida, a Muslim imam, called Abdul-Rahman a "brother," whose conversion to Islam was genuine. Hopida, who is also a spokesman for ISNA, also condemned the actions of Kassig's captors, a group that calls itself the Islamic State.

"His much-needed work was cut short last year when the un-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria kidnapped him," Hopida said. "Yes, I said un-Islamic State. Because their actions, their ideology has nothing to do with the teaching of the Quran."

Hopida went on to deliver a warning to ISIS from the Muslim holy book: "'Whoever kills a believer intentionally' — and our brother Abdul-Rahman is a believer — 'his recompense thereafter is hell.'"

Other speakers reminisced about Kassig, reading aloud from emails and letters he had sent them before his kidnapping.

In an email to his teachers at Butler, read aloud by professor Siobhan McEvoy-Levy, Kassig was at times self-deprecating as he described his personal development.

"Somewhere along the line, I actually started to like learning new things," he wrote. "I don't know when it happened, it just did. I'm still lazy, but I read things just to read them now."

The email reveals his favorite book, "Catcher in the Rye," and provides a glimpse to his changing perceptions of the world around him, as well as his role in it.

"I have learned that democracy is not perfect, but that there is virtue in attempting to create a society in which we can live freely and in peace," he wrote. "I know now that governments lie, but that each of us does, too. Moreover, we are lying to ourselves if we say there is nothing we can do to impact the world around us if we really want to."

In a March 2012 letter to his friend, Sarah Pollom, Kassig struggled to describe the instability in Syria.

"How will I tell you of the walls riddled with bullets and the flowers that grow over them?" he wrote. "War never ends, it just moves around."

But Kassig never gave in to hopelessness.

"I can't be sure, but I think I'm starting to believe that as beautiful as it is to finish building a house, it's a better feeling laying the first brick again after it's been torn down."

Hopida closed the service with the Muslim Prayer of the Oppressed, on behalf of the people of Syria.

Then, he offered a final word to his congregation:

"When you're making your prayers to Allah, please ask of him to bring our brother home."

Other speakers reminisced about Kassig, reading aloud from emails he had sent them before his kidnapping.

In an email to his teachers at Butler, read aloud by professor SiobhanMcEvoy-Levy, Kassig was at times self-deprecating as he described his personal development.

"Somewhere along the line, I actually started to like learning new things," he wrote. "I don't know when it happened, it just did. I'm still lazy, but I read things just to read them now."

The email reveals his favorite book, "Catcher in the Rye," and provides a glimpse to his changing perceptions of the world around him, as well as his role in it.

"I have learned that democracy is not perfect, but that there is virtue in attempting to create a society in which we can live freely and in peace," he wrote. "I know now that governments lie, but that each of us does, too. Moreover, we are lying to ourselves if we say there is nothing we can do to impact the world around us if we really want to."

In a March 2012 letter to his friend, Sarah Pollom, Kassig struggled to describe the instability in Syria.

"How will I tell you of the walls riddled with bullets and the flowers that grow over them?" he wrote. "War never ends, it just moves around."

But Kassig never gave in to hopelessness.

"I can't be sure, but I think I'm starting to believe that as beautiful as it is to finish building a house, it's a better feeling laying the first brick again after it's been torn down."

Hopida closed the service with the Muslim Prayer of the Oppressed, on behalf of the people of Syria.

Then, he offered a final word to his congregation:

"When you're making your prayers to Allah, please ask of him to bring our brother home."